Roof decking and fastening means therefor



Aug. 12, 1930. H. E. WHITE 1,772,594 ROOF DECKING AND FASTENING "HANS THEREFOR Filed lay 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig- 4 INVENTOR.

.Hkrbat E- Wlzii'e BY 117s ATTORNEY Aug.'12, 1930. H. E. WHITE ROOF DECKING AND FASTENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed lay 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-8 INVENTOR.

Herbert E. White BY filmft .H'IS ATTORNEY wit Patented Aug. 12, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT n. WHITE, or rounesrown, onro, nssmnon ro 'rnuscon srnnr. conrm,

or younosrowu, 01110,.1 conroaa'rron or mcnrean noor nncxmo AND rasrmvme mums 'rnnnaron.

Application filed May'2, 1928. Serial No. 274,608.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of fireproof buildings; and

more particularly to fireproof roof decking thereof, the unitsor sections of which may be machine fabricated, ready for their application to the roof framing of the structure. It is a specific object of this invention to provide relatively long, narrow, metal roofing units or sections, comparable to the planks or boards commonly used for roof decking, and means for joining the ends of the several deck members to prevent local deflection when a load, such as a mans foot, is concentrated at the end of one of the deck members. A further object of. this invention is to provide a fireproof roof decking that may be'applied rapidly and cheaply to the roof framing of a structure, whether the framing be of metal or wood, without the use of special tools, bolts, rivets, or any of the expensive conventional attaching means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a roof decking which presents a smooth, rigid and stiff, exterior surface that may readily be insulated and waterproofed. With these and further disclosed objects, my invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, and. illustrated in the following drawings, in which:

' Figures land 2 areend views showing sections or units of the completed roof deck, em-

bod 'ng the features of the present invention,

splice reinforcement or support.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of thereinforcement shown in igure 1. r Figure 4 is a perspective view of the reinforcement shown in igure 2.

Figure 5-is a pe tive view of the friction spring clip u to attach the flange of the deck unit or section to the purlin or truss of the building.

Figure 6 is a perspective end view showing in detail the strip usedvfor'starting the roof decking next to a parapet wall.

Figure 7 is "a perspective view of a roof decking unit or section. j

Figure8iaatopplmviewshowingthe a variation thereof in respect to the.

deck unit in Figure 7 fastened to the purlin.-

Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 2. v

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view showing the adjacent ends of deck units separated allld the reinforcement bridge of- Figure 4 in p ace. I

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters, and numerals designate corresponding parts in all figures, A represents a starting strip laid first against the parapet wall B or lined up to any position markmg one edge of the roof.

This starting strip A is formed with a double flange 1 at its uppersurface 2 which is flush, substantially, with the deck surface 7, when laid. It is formed also with a vertical flange 3 which rests against the parapet B, and with a lower horizontal flange 4 which is provided at intervals with holes 5 so that it may be nailed to wood roof purlins C or trusses; or it may be fastened by a friction spring clip D to a steel roof framing. It is formed furtherwith an upstanding flange 6 to protect the edge'of the flange 4 from becoming bent in handling.

The starting strip A provides a straight starting line for laylng the roof deck proper. A succession of deck units or sections E, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7, make up the roof deck. Each unit or section E consists essentially of a strip of steel formedwith a comparatively narrow exposed surface 7, and, at one edge, with an offset 8, preferably, and a vertical flange 9 with a horizontal or base flan e 10 arallel with the top surface 7. Eac unit is formed, at the op osite edge, with a double flange 11, adapted to fit into the offset 8 of the adjoinin unit E, a vertical flange 12 with a lower orizontal or base flange 13 arallel with the upper surface 7 of the deck and an upstanding vertical flange 14 to protect the flarlilge 13. The opposite sides the fr mg, as shown in igures 1, 2 and 8, mo

' is provided with two,

I posite side by driving on any suitable number of friction sprin clips D at an angle of about 45 degrees to their base flanges 13 and to the purlins or steel framing C; but holes 15 may be provided at intervals in said deck units E when it is desired to nail them to a wooden frame. All work, it is to be noted, is performed from the top, making it unnecessary to reach underneath or to use scaffolding.

- As shown in Figures 1 and 7 the butt or end joints 16 and surfaces of the deck units E are reinforced in the same plane by triangular devices F shown in Figures 1 and 3 which are located transversely beneath the surface 7 of deck units. As shown in Figures 1 and 3 the body portion or member 17 of each device is rectangular, is provided with two, triangular, vertical, upstanding flanges tends beyond the edges of the said flanges so that its projecting lip 19, at one side, extends into the double flanges 11 of butting deck units, and its projecting ledge 20, at the opposite edge, rests on the base flange 10. Each upstanding flange 18 is provided with a matching groove 21 and an edge 22 of vertical flange -18 which register with offset 8 and flange 9, respectively, of each butting unit. Every flange 18 thus supports the end joint 16 and the end surface 7 0 each unit.

A variation in the form of reinforcing device or plate, located transversely beneath the surface 7 of buttin deck units, is indicated in Figure 4.\ The ody portion or member 23 of each plate G, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, is rectangular, lies flat against the underside of the ends of butting roof deck units E, rectangular, vertical, depending flanges 24, and extends beyond the edges of the said flanges 24, so that its projecting lip 25, at one side, extends into the double flanges 11 of butting deck units, its turneddown inclined leg 26 rests at its opon the base flanges 10, and the dending flanges 24 stiffen its upper surface.- ach body member 23 thus supports an end surface 7 and the end joint 16 ofbutting deck units.

The deck roof roper, laid as described and illustrated, may waterproofed by the direct application of any of the well known roofing compounds or prepared roofings. The waterproofing material is cemented directly to the roof against heat losses, a layer of insulating material may first be cemented or otherwise fastened to the decking and the waterproofing then applied over the insulation.

I have described the principle and construction of my invention together with the distinct views which-I now consider to represent the preferred embodiment thereof; but

I do not desire to limit myself to the minor details above shown and described, as other modifications of the invention will doubtless portions 18, and exsteel decking. To insulate the P su st themselves to those skilled in the art.

at I claim is:

1. In combination, a. pluralit of sheet metal deck units having associate top walls, and reinforcements for said -top walls located transversely beneath the same and having portions at their ends interlocking with of the units below said top walls, said reinforcements being thereby'supported against the to walls to reinforce the same.

2. In combination, a plurality .of sheet metal deck units, each comprising side walls, and a top wall supported by the side walls, and a reinforcement for the top wall located beneath the sameand secured at its ends to the side walls.

3. In combination, a plurality of sheet metal deck units, each comprising side walls, and a top wall supported by the side walls, and a reinforcement for the top wall located beneath the same and having its ends interlocked with the side walls and thereby sup- I ported. v

4. In combination,-a plurality of associated sheet metal deck members, each comprising side walls and a top wall supported 3 for the top wall located beneath the same and between the side walls, said member being interlocked with the upper portion of one the side walls, and a reinforcing member side wall and the lower portion of the other.

5; In combination, a plurality of associated sheet metal deck. members, each comprising side walls and-a top wall supported y the side walls, and a reinforcing member for the top wall located beneath the same and between the side walls, said member being interlocked with the upper portionof one side wall and the lower ortion of the other and havin oflt'set stiffening flanges disposed transverse y to the top wall.

6. In combination, a plurality of associated sheet metal deck members, each comrising side walls and a top wall supported y the side walls, and a reinforcing member for the topwall located beneath the same and between t 0 side walls, said member having its ends interfitted with the side walls and having substantially vertical flanges located between the interfitting ends.

7. In combination, a plurality of associated sheet metal deck members, each comrisin side walls and a to wall, the side walls ing formed respectively to provide a tongue on one side 0 the member and a groove in the opposite side, said side walls thereby havin grooves formed in the inner sides of the side walls, the ton ue of one member entering the groove 0 the other when the members are assembled into a deck 8. In combination, a plurality of associated sheet metal deck members, each comprising side walls and a top wall, the side walls being formed res ectively to provide a tongue on one side oi the member and a groove in the opposite side, said side walls thereby having rooves formed in the inner sides of the side walls, the tongue of one member entering the groove of the other when the' members are assembled into a deck structure, and a reinforcing member for the top wall located beneath the same and between the side walls and having its ends engaged in the grooves in the inner sides of the side walls, said member having strengthening flanges that extend transversely of the top wall. 9. A reinforcing member for deck units having grooves comprising a plate having end portions for engaging 1n the grooves of the deck unit, and spaced ofiset longitudinally disposed side flanges terminating short of the said end portions. 10. In combination, a pair of sheet meta deck units located end to end and each comprising side walls and a top wall supported by the side walls, one of said side walls being formed with an outset longitudinal tongue, the other side wall having an inset Ion tudinal groove, formin grooves in their inner sides, and a rein orcing member that bridges the joint between the units and comprises a body plate having its ends engaged in the inside grooves of the side walls and having oflset side stiflening flanges.

V 11. A reinforcing member for deck units having upper and lower grooves, comprising a plate having op sitely extending ends located at different li ights for engagement respectively in the rooves, and spaced longitudinall dis reinforcing flanges termi-. nating s ort of the said ends.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si ature.

HERBERT E. TE. 

